Magiati Iliana, Ponniah Kathryn, Ooi Yoon Phaik, Chan Yiong Huak, Fung Daniel, Woo Bernardine
Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Asia Pac Psychiatry. 2015 Mar;7(1):91-104. doi: 10.1111/appy.12099. Epub 2013 Sep 8.
Few studies have examined anxiety and depression experiences of primary (middle) school-aged children from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and most have relied on parents or others as informants. The present study aimed to investigate self-reported anxiety and depression symptoms in Singaporean primary school-aged children. Age, gender, and ethnic differences and interactions were explored as well as similarities and differences between Singaporean children and US norms.
A large representative community sample of 1655 8- to 12-year-old Singaporean children (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) completed the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) as part of a larger epidemiological study of mental health in Singaporean children.
Rates of clinically elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression were 9.3% and 16.9% on the MASC and the CDI, respectively. Separation and social anxieties were most common. Evidence of a gender difference in levels of emotional symptoms was most evident in Indian children, with girls reporting more symptoms than boys. The relationship between age and internalizing problems was weak.
A substantial minority of primary school-aged Singaporean children reported elevated anxious and depressive symptoms. Better understanding of the factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of these problems can help the development of culture-specific interventions and facilitate the planning of community-tailored services and initiatives.
很少有研究调查过来自不同种族背景的小学（初中）年龄段儿童的焦虑和抑郁经历，而且大多数研究依赖父母或其他人作为信息提供者。本研究旨在调查新加坡小学年龄段儿童自我报告的焦虑和抑郁症状。探讨了年龄、性别和种族差异及相互作用，以及新加坡儿童与美国标准之间的异同。
作为新加坡儿童心理健康更大规模流行病学研究的一部分，一个由1655名8至12岁新加坡儿童（华裔、马来裔和印度裔）组成的具有代表性的大型社区样本完成了儿童多维焦虑量表（MASC）和儿童抑郁量表（CDI）。
在MASC和CDI上，临床焦虑和抑郁症状升高的发生率分别为9.3%和16.9%。分离焦虑和社交焦虑最为常见。情绪症状水平上的性别差异在印度儿童中最为明显，女孩报告的症状比男孩更多。年龄与内化问题之间的关系较弱。
相当一部分新加坡小学年龄段儿童报告有焦虑和抑郁症状升高的情况。更好地理解导致这些问题发生和持续的因素，有助于制定针对特定文化的干预措施，并促进社区针对性服务和倡议的规划。
